Disclaimer: Views expressed in these pages are of different authors (people who have send me these emails) and there is no way for me to check the authenticity of their claims. I welcome any response from Emirates on these specific complaints and that will be published on these pages also.
Please send your opinion or comments to the jawad@alumni.washington.edu

I would like to tell you about a very serious incident that took placein United Arab Emirates. In May 2005 I wrote to the British Ambassadorto the UAE and the British Ambassador to Yemen. I told them myconcerns that I may be discriminated in Yemen and United Arab Emiratesbecause I am British citizen but of Somali decent. I got responsesfrom British embassy in Abu Dhabi stating we take any case of racismand discrimination very seriously and we are committed to fight racismanyway in world. The British Ambassador to Yemen sent me anintroduction letter. Please note its not an ambassador job to send mean introduction letter but he did offer the letter to help me in caseI got into problems in Yemen I was very grateful.

In August 2005 I left London to travel to the United Arab Emirates andThe Yemen. I was racial discriminated and ethnically discriminated byUnited Arab Emirates immigration official and the state owned airlinesYemenia handily staff that work for the UAE government. They treatWhite British citizen differently from Black British citizen fromSomali. People told me in past there is so much racism againstSomalis in Abu Dhabi airport.

(Racial discrimination laws state)

Racial discrimination happens when someone is treated less fairlybecause of their race, colour, descent, national origin or ethnicorigin than someone of a different 'race' would be treated in asimilar situation. This is known as 'direct discrimination'

I was treated differently because of my ethnic origins because I amBritish citizen but my birth place is in Cairo Egypt. I am BritishSomali.

I report both incident and my fears came true sadly. I went to theBritish Embassy in Abu Dhabi told them what has happened. I wasadvised to make my complaint to his Royal Highness HE Sheikh Ahmed binSaif Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Department of Civil Aviation. Iwrote to him and after 10 days I got two letters of apologies one fromdepartment of immigration and other civil aviation authority. I washappy with those results.

When I come back to London I wrote to my British Member of Parliament.I told her what has happened and I don't want this to happen to anyoneelse she wrote a letter to the Foreign & commonwealth office in Londonto the Minister of State Dr. Kim Howells who deals with Middle East.

My member of parliament wrote back to me stating we have theassurances from British the embassy in Abu Dhabi that United ArabEmirates government are committed to fight any sort discrimination Iwas so happy that I took my case to highest level of my government.

Then I found out two of my friends where also discriminated in UnitedArab Emirates in Dubai airport it was ethnic discrimination. The UAEgovernment broke their assurances. I was deeply shocked and sad. Ibecame the official spokes person I have written to their Member's ofParliament to bring this case to Foreign and commonwealth office.Foreign and commonwealth office in London has stared an investigation,and British embassy in Dubai, We are waiting for the results of thisinvestigation. My friends are British – Somalis we are from the formerBritish – Somaliland:

Yemenia airlines did an investigation they state it was the handilystaff in Abu Dhabi airport who made problems for you. Yemenia airlinesdo not want to take any responsibility.

.

I am just fighting for my rights and equality I don't want to bediscriminated again in Arabian world just because of my race or ethnicorigins.

I have been fighting my case of 4 months now and the Foreign andcommonwealth office in London and the British Embassy in Dubai hasboth been investigation this case. They have informed me that theyhave sent two diplomatic letters nobody has respond back. Theyreassure me they will press the UAE authorities to respond.

I have also taken my case to European Union My MEP for London hastaken up my case:

And in 8 weeks time I will bring my case to the British House ofcommons to raise this case to the British Prima Minister and it willbe live on UK TV.

I think I am luck man because I have a powerful country and BritishEmbassies in UAE are also very powerful that will help me win my case.

I have read many of the people case in UAE I would to express myconcerns and how sorry how people has been tread in UAE.

I saw your web site today rana could you please add my comments. Couldyou please forgive me in Written English I have dyslexia.